Our Review of Frankfurt Airport (FRA)

Table of contents: Our Review of Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Pros and Cons of Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide) How we calculate On Time Performance Some Stats

Our Review of Frankfurt Airport (FRA)

At Plan Your Trips, we have analysed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this Guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travellers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analysing both airlines and individual flights.

Other Reviews

The following review summary is based on recent user feedback from Google Reviews and Skytrax, two of the most widely referenced platforms for airport evaluations2 34.

Review Summary: Frankfurt Airport

Frankfurt Airport receives mixed feedback from travelers. On the positive side, Skytrax awards the airport a 4-Star rating, highlighting its wide range of facilities, terminal cleanliness, shopping, food and beverage options, and staff service. Recent improvements, especially in security scanning equipment, are noted, and both terminals offer a good selection of shops and amenities.

However, many passengers report significant drawbacks. The most common complaints include:

Long walking distances between gates and terminals, which can be exhausting, especially for those with tight connections or mobility issues.
Poor signage and confusing wayfinding, making navigation difficult, particularly for transit passengers.
Lengthy baggage delivery times, with some travelers waiting up to an hour for luggage.
Multiple security checkpoints for connecting flights, which many find excessive and frustrating.
Crowded terminals and limited seating, especially during peak times.
High prices for food and drink, with some reviewers describing the quality as disappointing.
Mixed staff service, with reports ranging from helpful individuals to unfriendly or unhelpful encounters.

On the positive side, some travelers appreciate the airport’s cleanliness, reliable Wi-Fi, and the range of shopping options. The airport app is also mentioned as helpful for navigating the complex layout. Despite the challenges, the airport remains a key European hub with extensive flight connections.

Final Score and Justification

Rating: 3 out of 5

This score reflects the airport’s strong facilities and continuous improvements, balanced against recurring issues with wayfinding, long walking distances, and inconsistent service. Frankfurt Airport is functional and well-equipped but can be stressful for transit passengers and those unfamiliar with its layout.

Pros and Cons of Frankfurt Airport (FRA)

PROS

Location: Frankfurt Main Airport is a major international airport serving the city of Frankfurt in Germany, located 12 km southwest of the city centre.

Hub: Frankfurt Airport is a hub for AeroLogic, Lufthansa, Lufthansa CityLine, Lufthansa Cargo, and a focus city for Condor, Eurowings Discover, Eurowings and TUI fly Deutschland.

Modern Facilities: Clean, modern amenities are available at the airport, including a variety of stores, eateries, and lounges. With features like health centres, conference rooms, and VIP lounges, amenities serve both business and pleasure tourists.

Transportation: Convenient transportation options to and from the airport include two rail stations (one for long-distance trains - intercity and the other for regional trains - Suburban). In addition, the airport has good access to major highways and is well-served by buses and taxis.

CONS

Overcrowding: Frankfurt Airport occasionally gets crowded, particularly during the busiest travel times. Travellers may have to experience longer wait times and sometimes, they may feel tensed.

Complicated Layout: For first-time visitors, the airport’s vast expanse and multiple terminals might be confusing.

Luggage Pickup: Please keep in mind that luggage may take a while to appear at the baggage claims. This can affect your plans for onward travel, heading home, train connections, and arrangements for being picked up.

Immigration Queues: Passengers have frequently experienced long waits during peak hours at immigration and customs, which may be frustrating.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

There are two terminals: Terminal 1, primarily used by Lufthansa, it hosts both international and domestic flights. Terminal 2 hosts both international and domestic flights.

Transport to and from Frankfurt: Frankfurt Airport has two train stations: one for the long-distance station and the other for regional station, providing easy access to the city centre. Also there are multiple transportation options that include, bus, taxi and car rentals.

Check-in Areas: Terminal 1 check-in area is located in arrival level i.e., first level. Terminal 2 check-in area is located in level 2.

Shopping and Dining: This airport has a wide range of shops, duty-free stores, and dining options.

Lounges: The airport has many lounges that provide a variety of amenities, including Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, food, and drinks.

Travel services and medical care: Medical centre is open 24 hours a day to provide first aid and medical services. You can also purchase medications, facemasks and much more in the pharmacies at Frankfurt Airport.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation